Wednesday, March 11

Thrift in this recession

The New York Timeshas polled authors on whether the recent trend of thrift will last beyond this recession. I have read dozens of blog posts on this matter--and many of them say, yes, let's hope so!--but I'm left scratching my head with the large environmental groups. Where are you? Now is the time when people are realizing how important a dollar is. They are finally stopping to think about their money and realize the power of their dollar. You vote with your money, so where are the large eco-groups crying out for a renewed interest in thrift and where your money goes, what practices it supports, what national policies, what pollution is created, etc etc etc? Now is our moment, our chance. If we can harness enough support now for wise green spending and thrift, it will last beyond this recession and carry us into a new line of thinking, a new way of being. All I'm seeing from the large eco-groups is a sort of "oh, good, they're finally being thrifty" observation when it should be instead the largest PR push they have ever mounted. I suppose it's up to individual actions once again ...

Oh, and The Boston Globeexplained how greenhouse-gas emissions have lowered since the recession began--yay!--but how this negatively impacts the cap-and-trade industry.

The recession really does provide opportunities in many areas. Because our shortcomings have made the economic downturn so hard on so many, large portions of society are realizing for the first time how vital things like universal healthcare and energy efficiency are.

If we convert to green industries, I believe that better environmental habits will last beyond the recession simply because they will have become institutionalized.

The tighter spending, however, is a product of harder times and nothing more.

People started spending again after the Great Depression was over, and ten years down the road they'll be doing it again.